The Divine Deception
- December 3, 2021
- Themisian
Get on Steam"The Divine Deception" is a visual novel set in the city of Panthea, where a web of deception threatens to engulf the city. As the player, you'll uncover the truth by experiencing the story through seven different perspectives, each with their own unique viewpoint on the city's political, corporate, and criminal machinations. Along the way, you'll encounter minigames, puzzles, and quizzes to break up the reading and provide additional challenges. With its mature themes and intricate narrative, this 30-hour game offers a rich and engaging experience for fans of the visual novel genre.
Reviews
- The story is complex and unpredictable, with well-crafted twists that keep players engaged and theorizing throughout.
- The characters are richly developed and relatable, each bringing unique perspectives and depth to the narrative.
- The incorporation of minigames, particularly the hacking minigame, adds an enjoyable interactive element to the visual novel experience.
- Some protagonists have less interesting storylines, leading to uneven engagement across the different narratives.
- The action scenes are often depicted with minimal visuals, which detracts from the excitement and immersion of those moments.
- Certain minigames, particularly the deduction puzzles, can be frustrating and may not function as intended, impacting the overall gameplay experience.
- story43 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a complex and engaging tapestry woven from seven concurrent narratives, each featuring intelligent characters and rich world-building that feels alive. Players appreciate the unpredictable twists, meticulous foreshadowing, and the rewarding nature of theorizing about the plot, which culminates in a satisfying and cohesive experience. While some storylines may feel less developed, the overall narrative is praised for its depth, suspense, and the ability to provoke thoughtful engagement with its ethical dilemmas and mysteries.
“The story is complex, the characters are richly drawn and ended up surprising me many times. The plot twist hints are carefully laid out in a satisfying way that made perfect sense rather than detracting from the plot by blindsiding the player.”
“The mysteries, backroom deals, double crosses, and more that are revealed as the story progresses were exceptionally presented.”
“What the story sets out to do, and does, is beyond impressive, and the intensive foreshadowing of each twist makes even scenes with no 'choice' feel very interactive, as the player attempts to create their own theories.”
“Regrettably, certain storylines were clearly given less thought.”
“In my view, it appears to have been written in afterthought and I found myself bored by the storyline as a whole.”
“With seven different storylines you're jumping through, it never feels like the story slows down.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highlighted by engaging gambling mechanics that reward players for correctly guessing story beats, fostering a sense of theorizing and immersion. While some players find the overall gameplay enjoyable, the incorporation of various mechanics, such as minigames and deduction elements, adds depth and variety to the visual novel experience. However, opinions on the effectiveness of these mechanics can vary, with some players enjoying them more than others.
“The gambling mechanic rewarding you for guessing story beats correctly was also very fun and gave an excuse to theorize pretty heavily on what was going on.”
“Great writing, and fun gameplay.”
“Moving on from the story, where this game also impresses me is in how it incorporates different gameplay mechanics into a visual novel.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally solid, with sharp character sprites and a distinct UI, though some backgrounds may feel rough and certain scenes lack polish due to the indie/low-budget nature of the assets. While the visuals may not be high quality, they effectively support the engaging story and unique minigames, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. The art style is consistently praised, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.
“In terms of visuals, though, the thing that has easily improved the most is the overall UI, having a clear distinct style while still being very functional.”
“So to conclude, this game has an amazing story that'll make you think about it extensively during and after your play-through, interesting and unique minigames that will be sure to spice up the story, and visuals that more than succeed in depicting this lively world.”
“While being a visual novel, the most important things are the story and characters, the art style is consistently fantastic and the music in each scene nigh perfectly flows with the feeling of it.”
“Although the graphics and assets are clearly indie/low-budget, the content and quality of the written material make this game a steal.”
“They need not be high quality, but some artwork would make the scene much clearer.”
“The visuals are lacking, and the overall aesthetic feels outdated and uninspired.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its ability to enhance the emotional tone of scenes and its enjoyable melodies, despite some noting lower production values. Comparisons to other titles highlight improvements in both music and art direction, contributing to a cohesive and immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong complement to the game's visual storytelling.
“I absolutely adore the hacking minigame and the music!”
“While being a visual novel, the most important things are the story and characters, the art style is consistently fantastic and the music in each scene nigh perfectly flows with the feeling of it.”
“It's like a one-two punch of amazing art and wonderful music back to back; it's great.”
“The music direction feels very similar to that of Zodiac Trial, but I believe there are several improvements that could be made.”
“While I appreciate the art, the music leaves much to be desired.”
“The music aspect of the game is lacking and could use significant improvement.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in its emotional depth, offering players a rich tapestry of varied character arcs and nuanced interactions that evoke a wide range of feelings. Each protagonist's journey, along with the intricate stories of the city's inhabitants and factions, creates a compelling and immersive emotional experience.
“The characters and dialogue keep each scene enjoyable from moment to moment, but the game as a whole does an incredible job of bringing players through various emotionally varied, ideologically varied, and tonally varied arcs, both in the clearly delineated arcs of each protagonist and in the subtler but powerful arcs of the various different inhabitants and factions of the city.”
“The emotional depth of the story is truly remarkable, making players feel a genuine connection to the characters and their struggles.”
“Every choice I made felt impactful, and the emotional weight of the narrative left a lasting impression on me long after I finished the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for being consistently well-written and engaging, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“The divine deception is one of the most consistently well-written, funny, and interesting games I've ever played.”
